Hair care more than just a cosmetic routine
The dead stuff on your head needs good care, too.
Those long golden curls or that short gray buzz cut is alive only in the hair follicles of the scalp but, like living body parts, must be nourished and protected from damage, says a local expert.
“Keep it clean, brush it every day, shampoo it every two or three days, protect it from the sun or from hot tools like curling irons, flat irons and blow dryers,” says Michele Edwards, chairwoman of the cosmetology department at Pueblo Community College.
And if it starts falling out in big clumps, check with your physician because lackluster, unhealthy hair and excessive hair loss can indicate other physical problems, she adds.
Edwards explains there are three layers to hair, and the outermost layer, the cuticle, gets the most attention. It’s what you feel when you touch hair. It’s what you see when hair looks unkempt; it’s where dirt and excess hair products can build up; it’s what must be cleaned to keep hair vibrant and healthy.
The first inner layer is the cortex, where all the proteins, “the full anatomy of the hair” lies.
“If you dye hair, the coloring process happens here (the cortex),” Edwards says. “If you perm hair, you have to change the cortex structure of the hair for it to perm.”
The third and innermost layer, the medulla, is a mystery.
“We don’t know why it’s there. Most blonds don’t have it.”
Edwards says a person’s hair changes with age, men can have different hair-care requirements than women, and the industry has responded. Construction workers, for example, now can choose a professional-quality shampoo that’s intended to break down oil, sweat, grease, dirt and other debris on hair.
She says it’s important to use professional hair products because some cheaper brands include lots of wax that builds up on hair and harsh detergents for sudsing that can harm hair.
Seeing a professional stylist is important, too, Edwards says, because she or he has been trained in how to care for different types of hair, how to spot potential problems, what products to recommend for home use — much more than just how to cut hair.
“Be aware,” she says. “Talk to your stylist. Know what’s going on with your hair.”